Sequence 42. S. Vincent

January 22ND.
LET the whole Church celebrate, —
Triumphs of a martyr great ! —
Vincent's victories to-day !

To the King, who, whilst he fought,
Help, strength, armour, to him brought,
Praise and glory let us pay !

He, while still but young in years,
At the judgment-seat appears
Of the prefect Datian :
Word for word he gives again;
A grand controversy then,
Touching points of faith, began.

" There is nothing," Vincent saith,
" Truer than our holy faith :
" Christ I worship, Christ alone:
" Sire ! the true God I declare,
" And reject those gods, which are
" No true gods, but wood and stone.

" I despise thine every threat,
" And thy mercy should regret j
" Therefore, torturer ! rend and tear ! "
Then the prefect, big with wrath,
Fierce as wild beast in the path,
Cruel tortures doth prepare.

He, upon the iron horse
Lifting him without remorse,
Racks him with long-lasting pain,
Till an iron heated frame.

Hissing with devouring flame,
Tears him from the rack again.

From its crossbars taken down,
Into prison is he thrown
On some potsherds' broken ends :
Whose sharp points to him appear
Sweetness with sweet flowers to share,
Till his soul to heaven ascends.

Forth to wild beasts is he cast ;
They behold ; they stand aghast ;
By a bird is he watched o'er :
Sailors plunged him in the deep ;
At his loss for joy they leap,
But his corpse now reaches shore.

Thus, victorious every way,
Heaven and earth his power obey :
Let the Church rejoice and sing !

'Tis a day of victory,
'Tis a day of jubilee,
Which this feast to us doth bring.

Martyr ! in thy blood, we pray.
Wash thou all our sins away,
And primaeval joys restore ;
That, thus cleansed from sin's alloy,
We may in thy glory joy
With all saints for evermore ! Amen.